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 Cozumel Trip Report
Posted by dermadiver on 10/22/01

Trip Report - Part 1 : Day One.......+

Arrived at DIA a little after 5:00 am for our 8:00 am flight. Allegro didn't start checking us in 'til
5:50 am. It took us until 7:20 to get checked in & boarding passes. At that point, the lines for security check in for the concourses were a minimum 2 hr wait. Soooo, back to the Allegro desk.
After telling them that at least 1/2 of their passengers weren't going to make the flight, they arranged to have us escorted thru the employee security portal. This caused quite stir among those waiting for commercial flights. Heh-heh. One bonus of flying Charter.

After they pulled everything out of my camera bag ($3000+ worth of camera gear, which was the only carry-on Erika & I took), we made it to the gate at 8:20. The plane was loaded & ready to roll by 9:00 am. Only an hour late. Not too bad.

( A note on Security - Checked luggage was not searched. Carry-ons were. [In spite of FAA requirements (requests?) of one carry-on per person, there were several, OK, the majority of passengers in the loooong line with 2, or even 3 carry-on items. And bitching about the delays...
HELLO! people! Inconsiderate, self-centered jerks.]
What's wrong with this picture? Leonard had his nail-clippers confiscated, yet I was able to buy a glass bottle of OJ for Erika & THEY LET HER TAKE IT ON THE PLANE!!!!
Can you say MAJOR security lapse...?
Mexican security was much more stringent, as I will get to at the end...altho' they had their lapses, as well.)

Landed in Cozumel, got the green light, & we were at Dive Paradise by 2:00 pm. Checked in there, picked up the rental car and got to Alicia's by 2:45. (BTW, Dave H., Chavita says, "Thanks!!)

Leaving the unpacking for later, we headed out for El Centro & parts in between.

Stopped in at Caballito's del Caribe to drop off a package for Davida. Then went by the Golfito to say our "Hellos!" to Scott & Sally. Sally was off playing in town, so after visiting with Scott for a while, we went to Galleria Azul to meet 'glassman'. He wasn't open yet (hours are 5-10pm), so our next stop was Deep Blue. They were also closed. So far, we're batting .500.

This calls for cervezas & comida. Dorado de Villa, here we come.

Happy Hour. 2 for 1 Coronas! That's what I'm talkin' about.

Erika had Chicken Enchiladas & I had Chicken Tostadas. Lunch, beer, tipping the waiter & tipping the band (one guitar & a saxaphone, not really a band, I guess) for $20. By now, we have achieved "Island Time".

Erika achieves 'Island Time' ;)

Time for 'Otro Lado'. We reached 'Mezcalitos' just before dark & the skeeters were out in force (Scott said somethin' about them being too small to be picked up on his radar. Kind of an in joke; Scott loves playing on Combat flight simulators and claims credit for the skies over our fair Isla being devoid of hostile aircraft), so we decided to go south and come back to town on the new road. Kept waiting to see the AI's & was in for a surprise when the lights of La Ceiba & the International Pier came into view. It seemed I had been driving too long. The new road by-passes everything south to approx. Nachi Cocom. Didn't make it back to check exact info on this. Maybe someone on the Island can give specifics.

After changing clothes, we were off to Prima's for dinner with Christi and Mr. & Mrs. Cervezaleo.

I had stopped in earlier to let Juan Carlos know that we were coming & ready to eat some Crab stuffed Shrimp. By the time we got there, he had already seated Christi, and Leonard and Mindy showed up shortly thereafter. We waited a while for Stephanie (Sorry to miss you & Felipe, Steph), but she didn't make it.

All in all, a great first day.

Peace-chas

Trip Report - Day 2 : Let's go Diving......+

When we had left Prima's at the end of Part One, the Red light was on at the Aldora Pier and the waves were crashing & splashing over the sea wall along Melgar. That means that the Port capitan has closed the Port. That means, No diving! Crap!!

Apple @ DP said she'd know more the next morning. We were scheduled for the 3 tank Cock a Doodle dive, but that was out. Just as I was getting ready to call, I got a call from cervezleo. "Come on. Everybody's waiting for ya!" Guess they opened the port earlier than expected.

The day was partly cloudy and the water a bit choppy, but absolutely divable. The wind was no longer out of the north. It had shifted around to the north-east. Erika came along for the ride.
By the time we finished our three dives, she had caught our contagious excitement & can't wait to get certified.

Christi joined us for the day's dives. Our group was Christi, Leonard, Mindy & myself. DM Jaime & Capitan Miguel. Considering the brief amount of time that Christi has been diving, she is remarkably comfortable & confident in the water. Any of us would dive with her again. Great company & a good, safe dive buddy.

Dive 1 : Santa Rosa
Water temp for this and other dives was 82º-84º. Good vis in the 100+ range and the famous, mild Cozumeleño current. A beautiful drift.

(Click on photos for a larger image)




Dive 2 - C-53

The wreck; 16 1/2 months in the water. The growth seems to be coming along quite nicely. Now, if idiots will stop scratching their damned names in it...! The amount of life is increasing...







Dive 3 - Paraiso
This is, perhaps, the most dived site on Cozumel. And also, one of the favorites. It was also my shortest dive of the five, as I had to surface early due to pressure in my previously injured ear. A long, very slow ascent accompanied by whistling and popping as the expanding air in my middle ear escaped. Fortunately, I did no further damage and no equalization problems the next day.






Dive 1 : Santa Rosa - 137fsw - 41 minutes
Dive 2 : C-53 - 78fsw - 50 minutes
Dive 3 : Paraiso - 46fsw - 40 minutes

Back at the dock by 1:00 pm. Erika was interested in doing a quick pool session, so we started to set it up. But then the day started to turn nasty again. The wind started picking up and dark, ominous looking clouds were rolling in. When the Instructor showed up, we could see that he was no more ready to do this than we were. So, we decided to go back to our room and grab a quick afternoon nap. With the northerly winds, conditions were not the best for snorkeling, either.
We ended up heading into town to do some shopping as we dodged the rain. Erika has a great attitude and the somewhat foul weather didn't dampen her spirits in the least. She was just happy to be in Mexico.

Chas & Erika @ Pancho's
We had an early dinner at Pancho's Backyard and then stopped by Galleria Azul to meet "glassman" Greg. What a fantastic little shop!!
He blows his own glass and then etches it with exquisitely detailed underwater & topside scenes.
An amazingly talented man.
There is also art from other local artisans displayed in the Galleria.
This is a MUST SEE. On Ave 10, between Calle 1 sur & Salas, it is just down the block from Deep Blue Dive Shop. Galleria Azul

And so ends our second day on la Isla.....

Peace-chasTrip Report - Part 3 - Days 3 & 4....+
After a night of crashing lightning & thunder and torrential rains (soothing one back to sleep, only to be re-awakened), I awake to a gray, wet morning. Letting my lady sleep in, I stumble groggily down the stairs to start the coffee brewin'. Alicia, or maybe it's Chuco, very thoughtfully gets it ready to go the night before, as they are aware that I'm an early riser.
I go around to the front door and inside, where Chuco is making breakfast, to put some azucar & leche in my coffee cup. As I head back for some coffee to go along with it, Chavita decides to tag along.
Back upstairs, Erika softly calls my name....
We go up to say, "¡Buenas dias!"
She stretches and smiles and, for another day, all is right in the world.
After feeding Chavita the left-over carne de asada from Pancho's the night before, we go back for some breakfast. Over breakfast, Erika decides to stay rather than spend a wet morning in the boat.
Today, I am the first to arrive at the Costa Club pier. It's still raining, but the seas have layed down quite nicely in the rain. The ride out will be a lot smoother. Leonard & Mindy show up shortly afterwards and, with our fourth being there, Tom, we decide to do the Virgin Wall for our first dive.
Soon, the Cascabel (DP fast boat) arrives carrying DM Jaime, Capitan Azul & Ann, the fifth in our group. "Beergin Wall?", says Jaime. "Chure, let's go!"
We once again set 160' as our limit, with Jaime & Ann to stay above us at 90'. Jaime has me go in first, he's helping Ann with her gear, to check the current and it's moving pretty good. I am rapidly swept astern and tell the others to hit the water. They do.
And down we go.
I levelled off at 132' and got a little video...
(Click on photos for larger image)




and this, towards the end of the dive...



After a one and a half hour SI at the Villa Blanca, we choose the south end of Villa Blanca Wall for our last dive of the trip. We enter way south of the pier and end our dive 50 mins later, just off the lighthouse.



Dive 1 - Virgin Wall - 132fsw - 43 min

Dive 2 - Villa Blanca Wall - 90fsw - 51 min

What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Cozumel other than Otro Lado, Mezcalito's & the other Jacuzzi. Erika & I head off to get some Cervezas & Shrimp. Just as we're finishing lunch, Leonard & Mindy showed up. As did Cuco, Elvis & Priscilla. Photo time!



Sorry, but the "Naked Beach" photos stay private.

Then, it's off to soak in the Jacuzzi...   
A couple of hours later, we cruise back into town to shower & change and do a little more shopping before dinner at El Guacamayo. We are to meet Sybil & Beate from Zurich (Sybil posts as sea_witch on Diver to Diver) and are also joined by L & M.
Forgetting that Cozumel had already changed the clocks, Sybil & Beate were already finishing dinner. Their watches were set to Houston time & they were an hour early. (They very graciously did not accuse us of being late before discovering that they were, in fact, early.)
After L & M show up, Victor, our most gracious host at El Gucamayo, seats us all at the 6 seater in the middle of the room. Candlelight, drinks, excellent food & companions all blend together for another very enjoyable evening repast. Victor even fashions roses out of napkins for Beate, with whom he is clearly enthralled. With the softly susurrant sound of rain in the background, truly a night to remember.
Shortly before we finished, a guy sticks his head in the door and asks, "Is there a Chas in here?"
I stand up and introduced myself & then my companions to Jordan Z. (jayman from D2D) He had just gotten in & wanted to stop by to say "Hello!" After chatting for a moment, he had to go check in to his Hotel.
El Gucamayo, which is right next door to the Lobster House, is the newest addition to my "Must Eat At" list whilst on Cozumel. (Thanx Dianne & Jim! Hope it doesn't get too crowded there, but we have to keep them in business. ;) We were their only diners that evening.)
The next morning is clearing and muggy. Another night of rain.
We pack and then go down for one last breakfast with Alicia & Chuco. Sadly, the time has come to leave, one more time. With Alicia bidding us a tearful & fond farewell, we regretfully drive away. A proxima vez, mi amiga.
Arriving at the airport three hours early, we are greeted by long lines as Mexican Security does it's thing. Much more thourough than at DIA. They were having everyone open their checked luggage and searching thru it. When we got towards the head of the line, we were suddenly waved thru. Just Erika & I and they checked us in without searching our luggage. (I keep tryin' to tell you guys that I'm doin' something right)
We then grabbed a sandwich & water and settled in to await our boarding call. The plane was about an hour late. And here is where Mexican Security surpasses that at DIA. All carry-ons were searched for the second time, the first being when we entered the waiting area at gate A. Then, as we passed thru the door out onto the tarmac, they ran the Wand over everyone. And, with a much higher 'security:passenger' ratio, it went quite rapidly.

Hasta la vista, Cozumel!!

Peace-chas

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